Benno
Moiseiwitsch Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Fantasia
on Hungarian Folk Themes - Camille SAINT-SAËNS
(1835-1921) Piano Concerto No 2 - Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907) Piano Concerto 
Benno Moiseiwitsch, piano - London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted
by Constant Lambert, November 1939 (Liszt) - London Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Basil Cameron, April 1947 (Saint-Saens) - Hallé
Orchestra conducted by Leslie Heward, October 1941 (Grieg)
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110683 [64’43] [JW]
Accustomed
sensitivity, weight of tonal resources and structural acuity brought
to bear on these works. … see Full
Review
MUSIC
AND ART IN RENAISSANCE FLORENCE 1.
Anon. Saltarello el francosin
2. A. Coppini Tanto è
la donna mia 3. Josquin Des Prez A
l’heure que je vous 4, Anon. Rompeltier
5. Anon. Helas la fille
Guillemin 6. B. Tromboncino Hor
che’l ciel e la terra 7. J. Japart Amours
amours amours 8. L Compère Le
grant désir 9, A. Busnois Je
ne fay plus 10. Anon. Dit
le burguygnon 11. A Bruhier Latura
tu 12. Anon. Pavana el
bisson 13. Anon. Gagliarda
la traditora 14. Anon. Se
mai per maraviglia 15. J. A. Dalza Pavana
alla venetiana 16. J. A. Dalza Saltarello
17. J. A. Dalza Piva 18.
B. Tromboncino Vergine bella 19.
Anon. Petits vriens 20.
Anon. Hor oires un chanson 21.
H. Isaac La morra 22.
M. Cara Hor vendut’ ho la speranza
Recordings made in St George’s Church, Chesterton, Cambridge on 28-30
April 1997 Concordia directed by Mark Levy
METRONOME CD 1023 [72’27"] [PW]
A
good gift for someone unfamiliar with the repertoire, but is possibly
too much of a potpourri to be of much use to the Florentine aficionado.
… see Full Review
New
Zealand Composers
Douglas LILBURN (1915-2001) Aotearoa
Overture (1940) Anthony WATSON (1933-1973)
Prelude and Allegro for Strings (1960) Anthony
RITCHIE (b.1960) The Hanging Bulb (1989)
Christopher BLAKE (b.1949) Till
Human Voices Wake Us (1986) Gillian
WHITEHEAD (b.1941) Resurgences (1989) Jenny
McLEOD (b.1941) Little Symphony (1963) David
FARQUHAR (b.1928) A short suite from "Ring Around
the Moon" (1975) Larry PRUDEN
(1925-1982) Harbour Nocturne (mid-1950s) (no specific
given) Edwin CARR (b.1926) The
Snow Maiden (1963)
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Kenneth Young Recorded, with the support
of the Arts Council of New Zealand (Toi Aotearoa) in Symphony House,
Wellington, New Zealand, date not stated, disc released 1995
CONTINUUM CCD 1073-2 [61.09+62.57] [NH]
An
interesting overview of the recent Antipodean classical scene, revealing
some true unknown gems….See Full review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH NOS SOUVENIRS
Eugène YSAŸE (1858-1931)
Rêve
d’enfant, Op. 14 Gabriel FAURÉ
(1845-1924) Sonata for violin and piano No.1 in A major, Op.13
Ernst CHAUSSON (1855-1899) Nos
souvenirs Cécile CHAMINADE
(1857-1944) Sérénade espagnole César
FRANCK (1822-1890) Sonata for violin and piano in A major
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Beau
soir Laurent Korcia
(violin) Jean-Marc Luisada (piano) Recorded in Snape Maltings Concert
Hall, Aldeburgh, 19-23 April, 2001
RCA RED SEAL 74321 877622 [69.00] [TH]
Subtlety
and understatement, saving the virtuosic swagger and panache for the
suitable climactic points. … see Full Review
(The)
Queen's Goodnight:
Tudor to Jacobean Instrumental Music
-
John JOHNSON
(fl. 1579-1594): A Dump or The Queenes Treble - John
DOWLAND
(1563-1626): A Pavion Solus cum sola. - ANONYMOUS:
Robin is to the Greenwood gone - Edward
JOHNSON
(fl. 1572-1601): A Medley. - Richard
ALLISON
(b. 1560-70, d. before 1610): Allison's Knell. - ANONYMOUS:
Artheres Dump - Thomas
ROBINSON
(fl. 1589-1609): Twenty Waies upon the Bels - Thomas
ROBINSON:
The Queenes good Night - John DOWLAND:
The most sacred Queene Elizabeth her Galliard - Giles
FARNABY (c.
1563-1640): Rest - Tobias HUME
(c.
1579-1645): Lamentations. - William
BYRD (1540-1623):
The Bells - Tobias HUME:
Deth - Tobias HUME: Life
- Orlando GIBBONS (1583-1625):
Fantasia - William CORKINE
(fl.
1610-17) & Orlando GIBBONS:
Whoope, doe me no harme good man. - John
JOHNSON: The New Hunt is upp - ANONYMOUS:
The Scottish Huntsupe & Jigg
Charivari agréable (Susanne Heinrich - Treble, Tenor and
Bass Viols; Kah-Ming Ng - Keyboards; Lynda Sayce -
Lute) - Recorded at Hertford College, Oxford, April 2002
SIGNUM SIGCD020 [69.00] [PGW]
Heinrich/Ng/Sayce
are in a fully comparable bracket of excellence with Cortot/Thibaud/Casals.
… see Full Review
REJOICE;
Sacred Choral Music Through the Ages
Choir
of Trinity College, University of Melbourne/Michael Leighton Jones Recorded
24-26 November 2000, Chapel of Xavier College, Kew, Melbourne.
ABC CLASSICS 472 310-2 [58’13"] [JP]
A
lot of fine singing though a cautious welcome … a certain lack of intimacy
in these very inward looking works … see Full
Review
RUSH Stephen MACKEY
(born
1956) Feels
So Baaada Martin WESLEY-SMITH
(born 1945) For Marimba and Tape Mark GLENTWORTH
Blues for Gilbert Graham INSTRALL
Chasmb Relatec David
HORNE (born 1970) Rush Piers HELLAWELL
(born 1956) Let’s Dance
Daniella Ganeva (percussion); Graham Instrall (percussion)abc;
David Le Page (violin)a; Mike Watkinson (electric guitar)a;
Cantata Youth Choirb; Michael Kibblewhite (conductor)bRecorded:
St Silas’ Presbytery, Chalk Farm, London, January 1997
GMN C 0111 [60:07] [HC]
I
approached this with much trepidation and was slightly disappointed.
This has nothing to do with Daniella Ganeva’s technical and performing
skills … see Full Review
Victor de Sabata Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Violin
Concerto op.77 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Symphony no.5 op.67 Nathan Milstein (violin) New York
Philharmonic Orchestra/Victor de Sabata Recorded live in Carnegie Hall,
New York, 16 March 1950 TAHRA TAH449 [69’57"] [PQ]
A
quite superhuman accuracy of intonation … phrase after phrase rings
true … see Full Review
SACRED BRASS:
Works by PALESTRINA, ALLEGRI,
and GESUALDO
- Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (c.1525-1594) Ascendo
ad Patrem - Gregorio ALLEGRI (1582-1652)
Miserere - Carlo GESUALDO (c1560-1613)
Io parto e non piu dissi, Io pur respiro, Resta di darmi noia,
Moro, lasso; Palestrina Exultate Deo, Missa Ascendo ad Patrem.
The Canadian Brass (Jens
Lindemann and Ronald Romm, trumpets, Christopher Cooper, horn,
Eugene Watts, trombone, Charles Daellenbach, contrabass trombone.
Vocal soloists: Ariel Harwood Jones, soprano, Mary Beth Daellenbach,
mezzo-soprano, Laura Pudwell, alto, David Arnot, tenor,
John Pepper, bass. Ivars Taurtins, conductor. Recorded
at Humbercrest United Church, Toronto, June 21-23, 1999. DDD
RCA RED SEAL 09026-638682 [62’24] [KS]
Perry
Mason couldn’t acquit this one. … see Full
Review
Andrew SHORE (baritone)
Great
Operatic Arias. (Sung in English). The Elixir of Love, DONIZETTI
- 1 Attention! Attention! You country folk!, 2 Good
doctor, beg your pardon – It was Tristan who employed it with Barry
Banks (Nemorino), 3 How he loved me! – With a look of love and laughter
with Mary Plazas (Adina) Act II finale, 4 It will give you cheeks
like peaches with Mary Plazas (Adina), Barry Banks (Nemorino) Ashley
Holland (Belcore) and Geoffrey Mitchell Choir - The Barber of
Seville, ROSSINI - 5 Dare you
offer such excuses - The Italian Girl in Algiers, ROSSINI
- 6 All the changes in my fortune – All, yes, as friends
united with Della Jones (Isabella) - Don Giovanni, MOZART
- 7 Leporello’s Catalogue Aria - Don Pasquale,
DONIZETTI - 8 She'll he here by
midday – Quite unexpectedly passions inflame me with Jason Howard
(Malatesta), 9 Well, good evening! You're in a hurry with Lynne
Dawson (Norina), 10 Our brother – a living corpse is standing here
before you with Jason Howard (Malatesta) - Falstaff, VERDI
- 11 Honour Monologue
Philharmonia Orchestra,
London Philharmonic Orchestra and ENO Orchestra, with various conductors
- Recorded 1994-2000, in Blackheath Halls, London (except track 5 in
Goldsmiths College, London). CHANDOS Opera in English Series
CHAN 3077 [70.40]
[RJF]
A
deserved tribute to a very fine English singer actor who has given much
pleasure on disc and in the theatre, and who has we hope much more to
give. … see Full Review
Un
Siècle De Mélodies FrançaisesEmmanuel
CHABRIER (1841-1894)
L’Île heureuse, Les cigales, Villanelle des petits canards, Ballade
des gros dindons, Lied, Chanson pour Jean Charles
GOUNOD (1801-1893) Ah! Ma belle rebelle, Venise, Ce que je
suis sans toi, Les gazons sont verts Claude
DEBUSSY (1862-1918) 3 Ballades de François Villon
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Histoires
naturelles Francis POULENC (1899-1963)
Voyage à Paris, La grenouillère, Le disparu, Dernier
poème, Fêtes galantes, Nuage Erik
SATIE (1866-1925) La statue de bronze, Daphénéo,
Le chapelier Franck Leguérinel
(baritone), Irène Aïtoff (piano) Rec. July 1992 at the Théâtre
Impérial de Compiègne, using a 1930 Pleyel grand piano
ARION ARN 68215 [69’09"]
[CH]
A
thoroughly recommendable disc of mélodies which sees a promising
young baritone in the company of an 88-year-old grande dame. … see
Full Review
You may sample, download or purchase
this disc here
Seven Suites Of Swedish Folk Tunes 1-8
Dalasvit I (Dalecarlian Suite No.1) 9-16 Svit från Jämtland
(Suite from Jämtland) 17-23 Svit från Värmland
(Suite from Värmland) for lute mandorée 24-29 Svit
från Uppland (Suite from Uppland) 30-38 Hälsingesvit
I (Hälsing Suite No.1) for guitar 39-42 Hälsingesvit
II (Hälsing Suite No.2) 43-48 Dalasvit II (Dalecarlian
Suite No.2) Jakob Lindberg
(lute and guitar) rec Sweden 2001
BIS-CD-1199 [64.00?] [AD]
Further
justifies Jakob Lindberg’s position as one of the leading lutenists
of his generation … see Full Review
THREE
BY RAMBERT Intimate
Pages, Choreography by Christopher Bruce, Music by Janacek
Lonely Town, Lonely Street, Choreography by Robert North, Music
written and performed by Bill Withers
Sergeant Early’s Dream, Choreography by Christopher Bruce
Rambert Dance Company, directed and produced by Thomas Grimm. Recorded
by DANMARKS RADIO ADR / RM ARTS Co-Production in Association with CHANNEL
FOUR Photography CATHERINE ASHMORE Recorded 1986
DVD Aspect ratio 4:3
ARTHAUS MUSIK 100284
(101 minutes) [DD]
I
believe that the entire disc makes an ideal, well balanced introduction
to the modern dance form (not a tutu in sight), and will give pleasure
to tyro and expert alike... see Full Review
TrioMats Tribute: Contemporary Swedish Piano
Trios Anders
NILSSON (b.1954) Piano Trio (1998) Sven-David
SANDSTRÖM (b.1942)
Fantasia (1989) Johann JEVERUD
(b.1962)
Chamber Music Chapter 2 (1990) Gösta
F HANSSON (b.1957) Tribute (2002)
Mats Widlund; Mats Rondin, Mats Zetterqvist Recorded in Berwaldhallen,
Jan 2001 and Swedish Radio S2 Feb 2002
DAPHNE 1015 [58.01] [GH]
Keep
a good look out for these superb young musicians. … see Full
Review
"Two
Upon A Ground" -
Christopher SIMPSON:
Divisions in A, F, F & G. Thomas TOMKINS:
Voluntary, Prelude, What is a Day, Worster Brawls. Godfrey
FINGER: Division on C; Sonata Solo in G. John
JENKINS: Divisions in C & A. Matthew
LOCKE: Fantazia and Courant. E GAILTIER:
La Pompe Funebre. Tobias HUME: Love’s
Farewell; Pavan. PURCELL: Two in
One Upon a Ground. Charivari Agréable
SIGNUM RECORDS SIGCD 007 [78’28"] [PLS]
Performed
in admirable style. Lawes, Locke and, despite their relatively limited
field, Simpson and Jenkins, deserve to be remembered. … see Full
Review
BRUNO WALTER
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-91)
Symphony No.40 in G minor, K.550 Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-97) Symphony No.2 in D major, op.73
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bruno Walter Recorded "live"
at the Titania Palast, Berlin on 25th September 1950 TAHRA
TAH452 [63.33] [TD]
The
Brahms offers a performance of great stature. … see Full
Review
Franz
SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Symphony
No.8 "Unfinished" D759 Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No.1 in D minor
Bavarian State Orchestra/Bruno Walter Recorded "live" at the
Kongresssaal des Deutsches Museums in Munich on 2nd October
1950 ORFEO D’OR C562021B
[72.43] [TD]
As
a piece of history in sound I found these performances fascinating and
very enjoyable. … see Full Review
THE
WALTZ ALBUM: CLÉLIA
IRUZUN - Waltzes for the piano -
CHOPIN Grande Valse Brillante
Op.34 No.1/ Valse Op.69 No.1; WEBER
Invitation to the Waltz Op.65; VILLA-LOBOS
Valsa da dor; MIGNONE Valse
de Esquina No.1; FERNANDEZ Valsa
Suburbana Op.70; GRANADOS Valses
Poeticos; BRAHMS Waltz Op.39 No.15;
GODOWSKY Alt-Wien; J
STRAUSS/A SCHULZ-EVLER Arabesques on the Blue Danube Waltz;
LEVITZKI Valse de Concert; LISZT
Mephisto Waltz No.1
Clélia Iruzun (piano) - Recorded at Swedish Radio, Göteborg
on May 14th & 16th 2001
INTIM MUSIK IMCD077 [75’29"] [CF]
A
mix of the familiar with comparative rarities such as Mignone and Fernando;
an apt choice by this talented young Brazilian pianist. … see Full
Review
BOOK REVIEWS
WILLIAM S. GILBERT (1838-1910) and ARTHUR
S. SULLIVAN (1842-1900): A
MOST INGENIOUS PARADOX - The Art of Gilbert & Sullivan by
Gayden Wren Oxford University Press: ISBN 0-19-514514-3 pp396
£25
Wren
is a gifted writer and gives his honest views with confidence, providing
clear style of presentation, clarity of description and much to get
one thinking. … see Full Review
William
WALTON – The
Romantic Loner A centenary Portrait Album By
Humphrey Burton and Maureen Murray OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS. Hardback.
182 pages. ISBN 0-19-816235-9 £25
For
film music fans and lovers of Walton’s music, highly recommended – a
coffee table format book to be treasured. … see Full
Review
[Detailed listing (last two
days)]
[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3
C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part
5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] [Part
7 Misc]
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